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Sharks in the North Sea
Sharks are cartilage fish. Their skeleton is not made of bones but from cartilage. They tend to have a bad reputation. But in reality, there are only a handful of species that are really dangerous. Those sharks that you can better avoid coming into contact with don't swim in the vicinity of the Netherlands. They live particularly in tropical waters. Most of the common sharks that swim in the North Sea are relatively small. Larger species, such as the basking shark, are also seen every once in awhile. But this shark doesn't even have any teeth.
- Sharks as victims
- caught sharks, foto fitis, sytske dijksen
Life for most shark species in the North Sea is not easy due to fisheries. Sharks are sensitive to overfishing because they are only sexually mature at a relatively late age. Not only does it take a long time before they reproduce. They have a very long pregnancy (sometimes up to 2 years) and they don't lay many eggs.
Sharks are mostly fished in mixed fisheries. Besides sharks, the fishermen are also after other fish species. There is only one known case of a fisherman that fishes specifically sharks. This Dane catches basking sharks. In many cases, sharks and their eggs end up in fishing nets unintentionally. These are then bycatch.
Worldwide, tens of millions of sharks are caught yearly for shark fin soup. In that case, only the fins are used, the rest of the animal is thrown overboard. 'Definning' has been banned in the European Union since 2003. Sharks are still caught for shark fin soup, shark meat, oil and cartilage.
Since 2007, the European Commission has worked hard on an EU-action plan for sharks. This plan includes ideas for better protection and further research on the most vulnerable shark species.
- Fossilized shark teeth
- Fossil shark tooth., Ecomare
On the beach by Cadzand, fossilized shark teeth are regularly found
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